12 Jan 2023 • Eight cases of COVID-19's XBB.1.5 variant, responsible for the rise in cases in the US, have been found in India, according to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). The new case of the strain was found in Uttarakhand, while earlier, three cases were found in Gujarat, one each in Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said. The XBB.1.5 strain is a relative of the Omicron XBB variant, which is a recombinant of the Omicron BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 subvariants. Combined, XBB and XBB.1.5 make up 44 per cent of cases in the US“So far, nothing unusual has been reported in the patients infected with XBB.1.5 though we are currently assessing the clinical data. Many mutations are being reported in Omicron, but as of now, there is no indication that these newer sub-variants will cause anything adverse in India,” according to INSACOG officials.

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